Chelsea's Late Surge Sees Off Napoli in Champions League Thriller
In a dramatic night at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Chelsea overturned a half-time deficit to claim a vital 3-2 victory over Napoli in the Champions League. The result, sealed by a stunning late brace from João Pedro, ensured the Blues avoided a two-legged playoff and secured their place in the last 16, while condemning Napoli to an early exit from the competition.
Tactical Battle Unfolds as Napoli Take Early Lead
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior opted to match Antonio Conte's 3-4-2-1 formation, deploying Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto as wing-backs, with Reece James and Marc Cucurella joining Wesley Fofana in defence. Young Brazilians Estêvão Willian and Andrey Santos were given opportunities to build on previous performances. However, Chelsea's defensive frailties were exposed early on, with Napoli creating chances and targeting the flanks.
Despite Chelsea taking the lead through a nerveless penalty from Enzo Fernández in the 19th minute, after a handball by Juan Jesus, Napoli responded with intensity. Antonio Vergara equalised with a magnificent solo effort, dribbling past Moisés Caicedo and Fofana before slotting home. Napoli then went ahead when Mathías Olivera crossed for Rasmus Højlund to score from close range, leaving Chelsea trailing at the break.
Second-Half Substitutions Prove Decisive
Rosenior made key changes at half-time, switching to a back four and introducing Cole Palmer for Neto. As Napoli sat back to protect their lead, Chelsea dominated possession but struggled to break through. Further substitutions saw Trevoh Chalobah replace Gusto and Jamie Gittens come on for Santos, with Estêvão moving to a No 10 role and Fernández dropping deeper into midfield.
These adjustments paid off as Palmer began to influence the game. He set up João Pedro for the equaliser, with the forward creating space and firing a spectacular shot from 25 yards past Alex Meret. With Napoli pushing forward in search of a winner, Chelsea capitalised on the counter-attack. Palmer released João Pedro again in the 82nd minute, and the Brazilian ran at the exposed defence before curling a shot into the net to complete his double and seal the win.
Consequences for Both Sides
The victory marks Chelsea's first away win in the Champions League in over three years, propelling them into the top eight and avoiding the inconvenience of a playoff. For Napoli, managed by former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, it represents a humiliating early exit, compounded by injury woes that limited them to just five outfield players on the bench. The result underscores Chelsea's resilience and tactical adaptability under Rosenior, while raising questions about Napoli's European credentials this season.
